Karl Popper, Austria/UK (1902-1994)
Philosopher, born in Vienna. In his writings, he examined the conditions of scientific and social progress and concluded that individuals have the right to criticise authorities and institutions; progress is made possible by readiness to make the best use of existing material resources. He studied at Vienna University, where he associated with the "Vienna Circle" of philosophers, though he was strongly critical of their logical positivism.
In 1935 he published his first book on scientific methodology, Die Logik der Forschung (1934, The Logic of Scientific Discovery). He left Vienna during Hitler's rise to power, lectured in New Zealand (1937-45), finally becoming professor of logic and scientific method at London (1949-69). Later books include The Open Society and its Enemies (1945), which is directed against all systems with totalitarian implications, such as Marxism, and The Poverty of Historicism (1957). He was knighted in 1965.